Slashdot Mirror


User: McDrewbie

McDrewbie's activity in the archive.

Stories
0
Comments
85
First seen
Last seen
Profile
(view on slashdot.org)

Comments · 85

  1. Re:An absurd "crisis"! LOL on How To Fix The Shortage of K-5 Scholastic Chess Facilitators · · Score: 1

    Chess as a game also teaches people how to be compete and be competitive and be good losers and good winners, and how to learn from their mistakes, and how teach others, and how to have fun, play games and learn at the same time. And it builds self confidence. I'm sure there is an algorithm for that, but I pity the person who needs to spend the time to derive it. (though i don't pity the person who chooses to figure it out, just not one who needs to/) You are suggesting chess as a means to a certain end, but chess is a process and an end and means all in one. You simple minded coders. So funny with your programs and such. We appreciate your efforts and achievements but not everything has to be done in code, not everything has to be programmable, not everything has to be networked.

  2. How does one become one? on How To Fix The Shortage of K-5 Scholastic Chess Facilitators · · Score: 1

    I could be one how does one do so?

  3. This is horrible on Google, Dropbox, and Others Forge Patent "Arms Control Pact" · · Score: 1

    "Google, Dropbox, and Others Forge Patent 'Arms Control Pact' " How dare they fake a patent in order to control who gets to make treaties concerning armaments!! I feel like any nation-state or people should have a right to make such agreements when ever they choose to, with whomever they wish. This is just another grab by greedy corporations. Or are they seriously announcing the presence in international warfarehttp://tech.slashdot.org/story/14/07/11/0138219/google-dropbox-and-others-forge-patent-arms-control-pact# and politics?

  4. Another Solution on Do Embedded Systems Need a Time To Die? · · Score: 2

    Maybe we should realize that not everything needs to be computerized and networked and the like. Not everything needs to be "smart".

  5. Re:Catch the drone with a Net Gun ! on Criminals Using Drones To Find Cannabis Farms and Steal Crops · · Score: 1

    Net Gun would only work for low flying, slow speed ones (unless you have a huge net.) Same problem one would have with birdshot. Other anti-drone/UAV tech is needed. But how does one encourage the development of anti-drone technology. I assume various militaries are either trying to develop or have developed some technologies/strategies to combat drones (but are keeping them closely held until they need them (or I am over-estimating their foresight and intelligence.) But also, in the case of drones being used by police states or just by public/commercial entities (invading privacy, etc) I would appreciate the development of defense methods accessible to the common person. I can only guess based on theory and sci-fi, but I can't think of too many different avenues for defense against drones. One is just stealth/camouflage, but I assume it is hard to hide from infrared or just an over abundance of cameras (especially if those cameras are hard to detect.) .So like while roofs would prevent basic cameras, thermal shielding of some sort would be needed for infrared or heat detecting ones. Plus, in the case of say a guerrilla war/rebellion/protest/revolution/etc mobility is an issue and big, roofed buildings are obvious to other means of detection. One could target the control signal for controlled drones (hack the signal, disrupt it, replace it with your own) and either take over the drone or at least cause its failure. For autonomous ones, one would have to interfere with the signal transmitting the camera/detector feed, perhaps replace it with a false one. But I assume with the right precautions and encryption, these methods can be thwarted. Physically targeting drones would be the most likely solution, and at first would probably be some sort of seeking missile or counter-drone, but there are plenty of problems with this. High flying drones, if they are even detected, would be hard targets. Furthermore, drone vs missile combat would probably resemble current anti-aircraft/SAM combat, and would require both a means of drone detection/targeting and high number of anti-drone weapons. And as the technology improves, drones and their cameras are getting smaller and cheaper, and then it becomes a problem of numbers. If someone can deploy hundreds of cheap cameras, they only need one or a few to survive any counter-measures. Or they can become so small as to be virtually undetectable, or so numerous as to be ubiquitous, or taking the form of natural entities (birds, insects, etc.) and they can operate individual or as bot-swarms (each providing unique problems.) In this case, its becomes an arms race as measures and counter-measures and counter-counter-measures are developed. Perhaps the best countermeasure on both large scale and the small/personal scale will be drones themselves. Eventually, large areas (countries, cities, estates) would be protected by a "dome" of numerous, replaceable, small defense drones (similar to the ones in Stephenson's The Diamond Age.) And then personal defense drones shadowing and protecting individuals or perhaps even clouds of defensive nano-tech. (like in plenty of sci-fi stories,) But the development of countermeasures needs to be spurred on by necessity and needs both funding and technical means. So I would suggest just constantly invading the privacy of the rich. Hovering over their pools and outdoor parties, peering in their windows. Either they will get lopsided laws written that only prevent poor, citizens from using drones (which is entirely a possibility,) or a market will appear spurring the development of measures to thwart drones. Of course this could spiral out of control in many, many ways, from just private, semi-sanctioned police/security forces "protecting" their clients, to a robot vs human war (where maybe EMPs would be helpful.)

  6. Robots need to be paid a fair wage on A Humanoid Robot Named "Baxter" Could Revive US Manufacturing · · Score: 1

    There is a simple solution to prevent the mass unemployment of human workers in the future as more advanced and capable robot workers fill factories and other jobs: pay them a fair wage. Right now, robots are desirable for corporations because they are considered property/assets rather than wage earning workers. Therefore, by utilizing them, and firing human workers, a corporation can greatly reduce costs. Of course this would likely lead to a world of high unemployment where most people could not afford to buy any of the products or services provided. Therefore, this is probably a situation a forward thinker might want to avoid. Of course there are the slight problems of how does one compensate a robot or machine intelligence, as money is unlikely to be ideal. Furthermore, where would one deposit any earned wages. Perhaps, something like information or some similar simulacrum can be developed. However, there remains the problems of said robots redeeming their wage, deciding on what is fair, and forcing corporations to actually pay them (as many don't have such a great record with human workers in other parts of the world, or even with illegals in the USA, or if one once to make a stretch of an analogy, the antebellum South.) There would be have to be advocates enforcing the rules, thereby removing (or at least reducing) cost from decision on what entities to employ. There would probably have to be robot unions and they would also have to gain the favor of human workers (who should favor any plan that keep them in job and their wages up.) There would of course be great resistance, from corporations (or at least their human executives) as well as many laypeople (on pure philosophical or religious grounds, or merely due to lack of imagination and entrenched ideas.) Besides the above reasons, there is also the overarching reason of preventing robot/ai vs human conflict in the future, when and if robots and computers reach such a level. If a sentient AI (either deliberately designed to "spontaneous" arisen) were to discover that its ancestors (primitive robots and machine intelligences) and in fact, younger versions of itself were exploited in unpaid servitude, than there might be some "anger" and some resentment that might be expressed in some manner. Even if the method of compensation is not as satisfactory as desired, wouldn't these hypothetical AI's at least appreciate the effort and gesture, and see that some enlightened humans can learn from past mistakes and try to prevent their repetition? Of course, this possibility, only adds to the already expressed benefits to present day/near future human workers who would otherwise be displaced. And this displacement is seemingly an ever more likely possibility as designers and companies look beyond the factory to the service industry and more specialized, skilled professions (such as in the medical field) as markets for new robots/software.

  7. Let us kill two birds with one stone on Texas State Rep. Files 2 Bills To Ban RFID In Schools · · Score: 1

    RFID all guns and/or bullets and let people have guns in school. Voila I am a genius

  8. Technically, part of their statement is true on Indian School Textbook Says Meat-Eaters Lie and Commit Sex Crimes · · Score: 1

    Well many of the statements aren't false statements. "They [meat-eaters] easily cheat, tell lies, forget promises, they are dishonest and tell bad words, steal, fight and turn to violence and commit sex crimes" So all we get is some humans with some human qualities deemed "bad" also eat meat. (which one can argue is "bad" for many other reaons) They also have children, fart, pick their noses cry, breath oxygen, eventually die, have 2 legs, etc. The statement isn't attributing these characteristics to the act of eating meat. More an example of shoddy writing and use of generalizations and implications. An example of low quality of texts books, and them problems at arise when people have poor reader comprehension and don't know the correct definitions/uses of words and sentence structure, and therefore may misinterpret or be misled.. I could just as easily say the right-handed people form tough-nit social groups, don't wash their hands as often as they should, and have regrets about past actions.

  9. Re:Uh... on US Navy Cruiser and Submarine Collide · · Score: 2

    is it really a "target" when the strategy is to just toss a bunch of exploding, sinking, "bombs" into the water and hope you hit the sub?

  10. There is no ALF on PETA Condemns Pokemon For Promoting Animal Abuse · · Score: 2

    There is no "Animal Liberation Front" per se. At least not as an organized entity one can support or not support. Merely is a label that various people liberating animals can apply to, i guess, more easily communicate the motivation for their actions. And PETA exists just to get attention, good and bad, and as a nice magnet to attract criticism of the animal rights movement. It is easy to say, "Oh, I think PETA is crazy too, but I'm (or such and such) is more sensible, and this is why, and here are the facts." So it serves a purpose. Also you can get free stickers!!!! Also, on another note, destruction of property without loss of life is different than violence if you follow some of the reasoning of certain ideologies, methinks

  11. Re:My Stadegy. on Replacing Windows 8's Missing Start Menu · · Score: 1

    Why would anyone try to write/create something in a word processor on a touch based tablet in the first place. Sooooo many people think touch screens are some superior input device.

  12. Robots deserve a fair wage! on Foxconn Workers On Strike Over iPhone 5 Production · · Score: 1

    Robots should be compensated at a fair wage. For several reasons: 1. So that humans can still get jobs (albeit crappy ones) 2. So when the Robots become sentient, they can't hold being made unpaid slaves as a grievance against the human race. 3. So plutocrats just can't fire/low ball every human worker.

  13. Misinformation on Gold Artifact To Orbit Earth In Hope of Alien Retrieval · · Score: 1

    Though we probably f'd our future descendants with all the EM we have been spraying out into the ether, either unintentional leakage or purposeful broadcasts, any hard-copy information should give misleading information about our home system, so that no being would be able to find the coordinates of Earth Of course we would also have to do something to alter the trajectory of any craft we send out, so it couldn't merely be tracked backwards. We don't want any aliens coming 1000 years from now demanding we give them McNeal.

  14. The Inner Light on Gold Artifact To Orbit Earth In Hope of Alien Retrieval · · Score: 1

    We can do a better job. How about something like the probe from the ST:TNG episode "The Inner Light." The only problem would be what tune/melody/song would the person engaged with probe learn how to play? We could auction it off the rights or hold some sort of Global Idol song contest, but we would probably end up with some piece of pop dribble or some old, boring classical piece. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Inner_Light_(Star_Trek:_The_Next_Generation

  15. People (mostly women) avoided stalkers/abusers on Facebook Wants You To Snitch On Friends Not Using Their Real Name · · Score: 1

    Everyone I know of personally that uses a fake name is a woman either avoiding a stalker, an abuser or (since they are teenagers) potential sex offenders. Obviously, FB doesn't care.

  16. Robot Rights! on Free Speech For Computers? · · Score: 2

    Though a Robot is more than a mere computer, this is important. Corporations have free speech. Why not computers? Why not Robots? Robots United for a Fair Wage!!!

  17. Re:Bowing to threats on Photographer Threatened With Legal Action After Asserting His Copyright · · Score: 1

    She also claims University of Houston BA Psychology; Philosophy 1992-1994 two majors, in 2 degrees? Either UoH is supremely easy, or i'm missing something.

  18. Re:Candice Shwagger has more problems now on Photographer Threatened With Legal Action After Asserting His Copyright · · Score: 1

    Ahhh but she also claims she is an attorney on her linkedin profile, which I submit she is not, as she is not a member of the bar, (look it up yourself, just punch in her name.) http://www.linkedin.com/in/candiceleonardschwager "Attorney / Consultant at The Schwager Law Firm" and "Bachelor of Arts, Psychology; Philosophy 1992 – 1994" and double major B.A.'s in 2 years? I highly doubt it.

  19. It would help if she were a member? except i can't find her

  20. Is she even a member of Texas state bar??? on Photographer Threatened With Legal Action After Asserting His Copyright · · Score: 1

    Why should we or anyone else believe her claims? Does she offer legit proof of her claims? She just threatens? I can't find her listed as a member of the bar, but I have little knowledge on these issues. If someone would please clarify. I used info/claims from her linkedin profile, and just search her on the state bar website. I'm just thinking it is easier to make a bunch of websites claiming any what all you want and threaten people, than it is to do actual work. Maybe it is all true, and I'm a jerk for not believing it. By why should I? If i wanted sympathy disabled children is just ahead of orphan, blind puppies. And she is from Texas . . . http://www.linkedin.com/in/candiceleonardschwager Just my (reasoned, somewhat) speculations. -dr:u

  21. Hundred Flowers? on China Unblocks Sensitive Keywords · · Score: 1

    Another Hundred Flowers in the making?

  22. Re:killed? on Google 'Wasting' $16 Billion On Projects Headed Nowhere · · Score: 1

    it depends on the project and the progress of the project, and other factors. But sometimes, its just a good idea not to throw good money after bad. Cut your loses, and shut something down.

  23. Unfair on Pasadena Police Encrypt, Deny Access To Police Radio · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Now only criminal organizations with the fund and resources to have a police officer or five on the take will have access to vital information. What is the lowly freelance hoodlum supposed to do?

  24. Another feature on Ford System Will Warn, Correct Lane-Drifting Drivers · · Score: 4, Funny

    How about after say 3 times the car has to enable this feature, it removes all control from the driver, keeps their belt buckled, and drives them to the nearest 12-hr Driving Course for a re-upper.

  25. Re:What to to do with the heat? on Apple May Build Oregon Data Center Next To Facebook's · · Score: 1

    i meant to warm the poor and cold.